With so many former child stars succumbing to very public breakdowns, it's inspiring to talk to Mayim Bialik, a refreshing example of someone who grew up in the business gone right. The former Blossom star, who carried a whole sitcom at only 14, didn't let acting or celebrity define her. After Blossom ended, Bialik stepped out of the spotlight to get a PhD in neuroscience, which is about as far away from a head-shaving meltdown as you can get if you ask us.

With such an impressive résumé, we couldn't wait to pick Mayim's brain (and have a bit of a fangirl moment about talking to Blossom) when we spoke to her as part of Gillette's "How Does He Shave?" campaign, where different experts posit their theories about how exactly Superman goes from heavily bearded to smooth-shaven. See what she had to say about superheroes, what it's like to "lean in" in academia, and more.

Why do you think we keep making movies about vintage superheroes who stand for good and the American way?

"I believe so strongly in comic book culture, even for my kids. Superman is known for being fast, strong, and powerful, and he can fly. Those are some of the most dominant desires that humans have. They're kind of amazing things, and even as an adult, I get misty-eyed, because those are very powerful notions of what we can achieve."

Do you have any "supermom" tips?

"I'm very proud that I'm not afraid to be a kid with my sons. Sometimes I'll just put on music and dance. I like to climb with them in jungle gyms and stuff. I take them on hikes. It's funny because a lot of my kids' friends want to play with me differently than other parents. If I could wear a cape and be 'Super Mayim,' I would."

What are your favorite things to do in the summer with your kids?

"We like the beach. We go with a bunch of other families in our community, and what's nice about the beach is that you can hang out with your friends."

What are some of your go-to summer snacks for beach days?

"We're vegan, so we live by the fruit and the vegetable and the grain and the nut. Stone fruits are some of the best there are, and they come in the best colors. They're great for keeping kids hydrated and giving them beta-carotene. My kids love cherries. Give a four-year-old a bowl of cherries and he's happy for hours!

As someone who worked in science, a field that's known for being male-dominated, did you feel the same pressure to "lean in" as women in the corporate world?

"It's something I had to deal with directly, and my personal choice was not to pursue a post-doc or research fellowship. So my personal choice as to be home with both of my boys in their first years. Yes, dads have to deal with it, too, but in terms of moms that were professors, and for one of my mentors, she took a part-time position so she could be with her kids. Everything is difficult: 'Should I get tenure, or should I have another kid?' Even when I got pregnant and at the time my boss was a woman, I felt nervous telling her. It changes your status and how you're perceived. It's a very public declaration when you get pregnant; it's a change in your identity. You become a different person."

You're very open about being an observant Jew, which often requires asking for holidays off and leaving work early on Friday. How do you handle discussions like this with a boss?

"There are certain professions where it's especially hard to do those things. I do my best to observe the Sabbath, but there are work things that happen on Shabbat that are required for my livelihood, so I'm not the poster girl for observant Judaism at all. When it comes to your job and work-life choices, you have to decide: If people don't give you what you want, do you fight or look elsewhere? There's also the fact that I choose not to wear strapless or not to wear mini-dresses. My stylist loves me and hates me."